Lip Treatments -By Terry - Baume de Rose
SanjaFika 8/16/2012 5:53:00 AM
All the previous reviews have already covered the issue of the insane price tag attached to this, so i wont get into it! I am currently on my 2nd or 3rd jar of this and even though this was suppose to be a one-time purchase, a luxury treat per say i have repurchased more than once and sadly i will break-down and buy it again i am sure. The skincare fanatic in me is always on the look out for the next best thing, i am very fickle when it comes to brand loyalty and even though i usually buy HE, i've discovered a few drugstore gems that surprised me. My lip balm collection is completely out of control - i have them in every single part of the house, every handbag, pocket, drawer etc for "emergencies". Baume de Rose however never leaves my side and not just because of the price - to put it plainly, it preforms better than anything else i have and can fix my lips in 5 seconds. The texture is like a typical balm, without the stickiness and oily residue of others of course. It sinks in fast, erases any flakes that might be on there, drenches the dry feeling AND smells amazing (i love roses!). I expected some colour but my pigmented rosy lips prevailed and i prefer it that way and even though my lips are already full, the plumping effect is definitively noticable :) I am sure there might be better lip treatments out there for less but i dont know of them - when i do i will be the first in line to buy them but until then i will carry this little jar everywhere :)
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Chantecaille - Just Skin
SanjaFika 7/26/2012 3:19:00 AM
I am hooked!!! And i really wish i wasnt because this little skin wonder is not only expensive but also VERY hard to come by in Canada :( As soon as i used it once i knew my search for a natural skin beautifier was over - my skin just glowed, it felt comfortable, looked natural and the compliments kept coming all day! I put it on in the morning, it lasted all day, it didnt oxidize at all and i acctually regretted putting on powder on top of it (an afternoon habit!). The tube is sleek, no fluff, fancy packaging or fussy applicators but yet it manages to look kind of "special" :) Judging by the coverage (light) i can see this working for me in the daytime for work, casual activities and weekend play. It evens out my skintone, tones down redness, blends like a dream and looks like "just skin" - very healthy, pampered skin at that! For night or special occasions i may need a little more coverage and more of a matte finish but for that i have Chantecaille Future Skin...Yes another product i have to hunt and gather all the time BUT for me its worth it. If you are on the fence with Chantecaille due to price or availability, i recommend trying it anyways - one application will solidify it as a must-have!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -By Terry - Creme de Rose
SanjaFika 6/22/2012 1:21:00 AM
EDIT; Brace yourself people - i have changed my mind about this moisturizer and that is something that almost never-ever happens! Its a moment to be recorded for someone as stubborn as me :-P I love Creme de Rose now and have repurchased yet another jar (just in case). Initally i didnt like the texture but that was because i had purchased the Nutri-Lift Comfort Cream version and not the original moisturizer. Once i got used to it and figured out a better application method (melt on fingers and pat on slightly damp face - facial mist helps) I appreciated the cream a lot more. When correctly applied Creme de Rose is absorbed in the skin almost instantly (remember - damp skin is key), there is no greasy residue and you really only need a pea size amount each time. Even better this version lives up to its "comfort" promise and soothes my skin each night. I am glowing again...my wallet however is not :( ORIGINAL REVIEW; This moisturizer just annoyed me! Maybe its my fault, my expectations were high, the hype was huge, the brand is top-notch and of course the price tag alone promised results! The outcome was mediocre at best and i cant deny that the whole experience was a BIG let down :( Why? My main issue is texture! Its not a cream, not a lotion, not quite a mousse...its kind of like a greasy yougurt that started separating! Where is the luxury in that? The one good thing is that it absorbs quickly and leaves no real residue on the skin surface. The drawback to this is that it makes me feel like i didnt use enough so i end up using more, never to be satisfied.... It smells great at first - roses gallore - but then it changes in to the "dead roses water" scent and no one likes that! I want to love this! I really-really do! But i've used drugstore moisturizers that preformed better so unfortunately By Terry missed the boat on this one...for me anyways :(
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Klorane - gentle shampoo with oat milk ( frequent use)
SanjaFika 5/26/2012 6:25:00 AM
I never-ever repurchase hair products - especially shampoo! Before i found this my opinion on shampoos was simple - anything goes since i always follow the wash with a good conditioner! Honestly after spending so much money on salon products with very little difference in efficiency and feel, I figured i might as well use drugstore brands and save my money for HE conditioners/hair masks. Then one day i walked in to Shoppers Drug Mart and found this boring looking bottle in the clearance section. I recognized the brand from back home (i am originally from Europe) and a wave of nostalgia swept over me and before i knew it i was at the register :) I came home and that night in the shower my love affair with this "boring oat" formula was born. Finally i saw and felt the difference the right shampoo can make! Its insanely gentle, no fragrance, lathers up well and tames my hair almost immidietly :) Another thing i LOVE about the brand is that under the "directions" it actually states "one wash is enough" - every other bottle says "rinse and repeat"! What can i say, i really appreciate that kind of messaging lol So the moral of the story is that there are shampoos out there that make a difference and they dont have to have a huge "logo" or celebrity endorsment or even massive advertizing in order to work perfectly. I will continue to repurchase and hoard the mundane little bottle forever more - they better not discontinue it either! I have never cried over a material/cosmetic item but i might not be able to stop myself when it comes to this miracle milky-oat potion :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Korres - Wild Rose Mask
SanjaFika 5/24/2012 11:56:00 PM
I wanted to like this - i tried many-many times to make it work with my skin but it was a no-go! This is suppose to be a brightening mask - imparting radiance, glow and instant benefits after even 1 application! You are thinking - yeah right! I hate to admit it myself but the claims on the box are true - this mask will brighten your skin right away and the glowiness will be very obvious. Its not expensive, its natural, no offensive fragrance and it will last a while since the jar size is generous. Sounds awsome - miracle potion that delivers- thats rare these days :) So why am i not repurchasing you ask? I am sad to say that even though it worked - my skin looked great every time i tried it - it also broke me out every single time :( Radiance and pimples dont go together so my jar will be passed on to someone else with hopes that it may work for them...My search continues...or i might try it just one more time - maybe this time it will be different :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Caudalie - Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum
SanjaFika 5/23/2012 7:05:00 AM
This is an allright serum - it feels nice on the skin, has a "good" scent, didnt break me out and its more "natural" than most. The price is definitively on the steep side but i have paid more for other treatments that werent so great! That being said even though it feels nice on my skin i wouldnt repurchase it because i didnt see any tangible results at all. I was disappointed but since i love Caudalie products, i had high expectations for this particular serum. Bottom line - it just feels good but for the price tag it should be much-much better!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Hervana
SanjaFika 5/23/2012 1:24:00 AM
I want to preface this review by telling everyone that i have owned (at some time) every Benefit box powder - Dandelion, Coralista etc. Hervana is the only blush that i kept to myself and I wouldnt dream of putting it on my swap list, giving it away or God forbid end up losing it! That being said - its really difficult to describe the shade itself! Its a mix of peachy-pinky-bronzy shades that blend together into a wonderfull blushing flush! If blended correctly this blush looks completely natural - just as if i am turning red from the inside (in a good way though!). Whats even more impressive is the fact that the mini brush it comes with is acctually usable! I dont remember the last time i used the applicators that come with my makeup items so this is a definite plus. Bottom line - Hervana has redeemed my faith in Benefit and i would surely buy it again!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Estee Lauder - Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex
SanjaFika 5/7/2012 1:52:00 PM
I have to admit that I considered Estee Lauder makeup/skincare as a very "grandmotherly - old fashioned" brand and i never really gave their counter a second look. When my skin went haywire i panicked and scrambled to find a skincare routine to save what was left of my dignity and confidence in the mirror lol That sounded way less vain in my head just now lol Basically i went to my "go to brands" - Chanel, Dermalogica, Bliss, Murad etc and every single haul ended up in either disappointment or complete indifference. Every single bottle became an epic fail for me! Then the unassuming gwp brown bottle made its way to my bathroom and one night i figured why not - it cant get any worse and besides i was desperate (a few drops cant kill me right?). In the morning i was pleasantly surprised to see the redness had turned baby pink, the flakies were less visible and there was no stinging!!! Basically i was looking at "HOPE" in the mirror and i was in love just like that :) Our love affair continues and all i can say Estee Lauder is the best relationship i have ever had - a little bit high maintenance (the price is a little ouch) but really-really worth it! It turns out that looks arent everything when it comes to relationships - its what inside the ugly brown exterier that counts :) I love you ANRSR - dont leave me please...
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Elemis - Tri-Enzyme Facial Wash
SanjaFika 5/7/2012 12:56:00 PM
Elemis Tri-Enzyme product line was created to facilitate "gentle" and continous skin resurfacing, aiding exfoliation and cell renewal through more natural means. The key words in the whole process is "gentle" and "continous" so if you are looking for dramatic, overnight, mind blowing results after a few uses, then this cleanser is not for you. That is not to say that this cleanser doesnt work or that its not worth the investment! Truth be told this is the only cleanser i have ever repurchased - over and over again! Even though its considered a secondary cleanser and adds an additional step in an already lengthy skin routine I am 100% in love with this and i pray that Elemis doesnt discontinue it EVER!!! Aside from the fact that its a skincare item that works, its also a joy to use - light foam, light (almost non-existant) scent, great texture and you need very little to get the job done. A true spa product :) I have to admit that patience is not something i have too much of but i am so glad that i stuck with using this and didnt give up on it after a few weeks. My skin has litteraly transformed since i started using this product - little by little, day by day, month by month....the glowiness and brightness of my complexion is unquestionable! My face is smooth and radiant and its getting better and better every single day! The best part is that i didnt have to suffer through painfull peels and hide away from the world to acheive amazing resurfacing benefits. Yes i had to wait a few months but my face thinks it was definitively worth it :) Yay for Elemis!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -BeneFit Cosmetics - Celebutante [DISCONTINUED]
SanjaFika 8/13/2011 4:22:00 PM
Benefit products are either a HUGE HIT for me or just plain blaah...That being said, the Celebutante definitively lived up to my expectations and them some. Plus lets face it - its really cute! Basically this palette has everything you might need on the fly (the only thing missing is a mascara but i am willing to forgive that!) You get a mini benetint, mini high beam, 2 mini lipsticks, mini lipgloss, 2 shadows and Dallas blush/bronzer! Perfect little package that can carry you from daytime to night with very few steps (plus you get instructions!). The brushes/applicators included are not great but definitively a step up from the usual "spongy" sticks lol I love this and would buy again in a heartbeat :-)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Guerlain - Rouge G Gemma 64
SanjaFika 8/12/2011 11:19:00 AM
First of all - i have never been a lipstick girl! I usually hate the texture/smell/feel/look of "traditional" lipsticks, no matter what brand. I usally wear HE brands so i cant really comment on drugstore lipsticks but when it comes to lipsticks even Chanel has always let me down. Enter beautiful - wonderful - classy Guerlain Rouge G in Gemma...I am a 100% convert. The packaging is wonderful but even if it was a plain tube I would still LOVE Gemma! The color is a perfect rosy nude - not too bright, not too dull; just a perfect your lip but better shade. The texture is creamy, kind of like a luxury lip balm and it tastes like NOTHING! You will not taste that dreaded old-lady lipstick grime, which is wonderful. I bought a backup already and Guerlain is acctually selling refills for the compact so you end up paying less :-) Personally i would still pay the $60 (or more) again and again!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No